<p>Musicz: the reason everyone tells you to be recognized as independent is because otherwise even if you’re 18 colleges will count on your parents to pay for your college, fill out the papers, etc. And if they don’t, you can’t do anything about it and are out.
If you’re over 18, it’s a complicated process.
If you’re under 18, it’s easy for you - go to the high school’s counselor, principal, or any adult of authority, and say “I need your help. I’m here because my parents pulled me out of school two years ago and I haven’t been enrolled ever since, I was stuck at home, I worked to help the family instead of going to school. I need to be declared independent so that I can stop working for my family and resume my education. I plan to take the GED and I need your help.”
This (asking for help and stating that you haven’t been enrolled in school) will get things in motion. Being 17 1/2 and having a job, you may even be allowed to live in your own apartment (I’m not clear on how it works but you being a ward of the state means someone representing the state is your cosigner; this may not be the case in TX but often there aren’t enough foster homes for children so being 17 1/2 means living outside a foster family is a real possibility). When you apply to college you won’t be expected to pay $9,000 - your EFC means your parents are expected to pay $9,000 and based on what you said it’s obvious they won’t, so you NEED to be declared independent. Then your personal EFC would be $0. Your parents wouldn’t be relied on to pay for you. You’d automatically qualify for financial aid to attend college without parental input.
Also: When you go to the local public high school to talk about the GED and about being declared independent/being emancipated by reason of parental neglect, have a backpack with you with the things that are important to you (pictures, toys, clothes, etc). It may not be useful but you never know.</p>
<p>Okay, I just want to say that at least in our state, you can go to community college INSTEAD of high school, as “dual enrollment,” and there are special scholarships for that if you apply early enough. Then, when you have finished a year of community college, you get a high school diploam automatically. That means you don’t necessarily need to do the GED.</p>
<p>I strongly advise and hope that you can talk with an advisor in the high school/dual enrollment program at the community college about this.</p>
<p>Also, I know a few kids in your situation. It may be unusual on this forum but unfortunately it is not unusual in the big wide world. The kids I know are waiting for college until they turn 23 and can do their own FAFSA!! They are working and living at home, often then moving to an apartment with friends using earnings from a job they already have. A few of the kids i know have been told, when they turn 18, that they aren’t the parents’ “problem” any more and are kicked out for no reason.</p>
<p>I suggest that you consider working, saving enough, and moving closer to the community college. School can be added when possible, one course or two courses at a time (unless you can get free courses as part of a community college for high school students program). You may need remedial courses before you can really get to college level classes too.</p>
<p>What I am saying is that from what I have seen, a situation like this requires that the kid, the student, have a lot of patience, defer some gratification, and understand that this may take more time than most people. But you are by no means alone. I had a class at my state university with a woman who was crying because it was her last class, after 17 years of taking classes!</p>
<p>Get yourself some support in whatever way you can, please. You deserve it. It is hard to take a long view when you are young but from my vantage point (I am much older than you!) things are gonna work out. Just stay on a positive path if you can, and know that it is one step at a time.</p>
<p>(Brownparent) Yes it is definitely not good news at all. However I was under the thought that your could refill out the FAFSA when needed before college? I also know though that I would have to fill out 2014-2015 as of course those years i’d be there.</p>
<p>Also now that i’m aware that they would not help fill out next years form, i’m most likely better off with going down a different route than to rely on them at all.</p>
<p>Such as being independent as I’ve now learned can be a possibility and getting a job to help pay for all the expenses and loans.</p>
<p>Thanks for help with sorting out that email an such, I was quite confused about it. I do know I need to update someone with the information I have now of my parents no longer agreeing to help out.</p>
<p>I plan on going to the counselors office or principals at the local high school for some options.</p>
<p>Under age 18, they are legally obligated to provide you with an education. Turn them in while you still can. Once you turn 18, the state can no longer help you. They will not go back and do anything retroactively. I know it is hard to stand up to the parents, but if you do not, your life is sealed.</p>
<p>1-800-4-a-child</p>
<p>Myos1634–Thanks because that sums up some information in my mind about why I might want to be absolutely registered as independent. (which seems to be the best choice as I can also contine with my GED and get better financial help) </p>
<p>I am definitely going to the local high school and discussing my options with some people that may help me there. I will keep the fact that I need to bring my bag with my needy stuff in it. (don’t worry I’ve had a bag packed for a quite some time) However I plan to take this as smoothly as I possibly can and as I’ve mentioned before, try and take the best route. Also thanks to you and brownparent again for clearing up some information about EFC and my financial aid with declaring independence. </p>
<p>Greatly appreciated :)</p>
<p>lmkh70–Thanks for your help 
I’m definitely working on it.</p>
<h2>Okay question for anyone… If I was to be allowed by authority to become an independent “legal” adult. If I was to be allowed to receive my own place, would I also possibly qualify for low-income rent housing? I do know it varies state to state and this is what is mentioned on the Texas state website.</h2>
<h2>“The Section 8 Housing Choice Program provides rental assistance payments on behalf of low income individuals and families, including the elderly and persons with disabilities. The program provides financial assistance for decent, safe and sanitary housing to eligible households whose annual gross income does not exceed 50% of HUD’s median income guidelines. HUD requires 75% of all new households admitted to the program be at or below 30% of the area median income. Eligibility is based on several factors, including the household’s income, size and composition, citizenship status, assets, medical and childcare expenses.”</h2>
<h2>It says nothing about college expenses, however I would most likely be low income with a full-time minimum wage job. I have recently looked up as much housing I could find around this college and I have found nothing below the $450/month mark. (including having roommates or leasing a room with a family) I am aware some families and roommates may be up for negotiation, however I was not sure if low income housing would be a better way to go as I would not have to rely on anyone but myself.</h2>
<h2>Do be aware that I have yet to talk to any authority or do anything but think and research on everything stated in all the posts above today. This is only an idea that I had come to mind and was wondering if anyone may know more about low income housing as I cannot find any more information anywhere online about it.</h2>
<p>(I do plan to talk to authority as mentioned above about all my options and what is happening, but I just thought I could never be too prepared for this)
Thanks to all that have helped so far.</p>
<p>The college you have found is not affordable since it was expecting your parents to pay $9,000, which they won’t pay. So, right now, you can’t go. </p>
<p>That’s just one example why you have to be declared independent.</p>
<p>First, you need to be declared independent/emancipated.
Then, you could enroll in a high school and ask for Dual Enrollment - you’d go to college for free. During that time you’d apply to a variety of colleges, both in-state (public and private) and out of state (private only, where your grades/record place you at the top of their applicant pool, preferably 500 miles away from your hometown to maximize financial aid.) By the way, if you didn’t have the credits to graduate, you could very well stay in high school/dual enrollment community college until you have those credits, regardless of age, if you wanted to, and thus take those college credits for free until you’re done. After all it’s not your fault your parents pulled you out of school. Once you start college “for real” these credits stay with you so it’s that much less to pay. You could also be in dual enrollment and still prepare the GED, finish early, and start college in the summer.</p>
<p>Every state does things differently, but typically there would be apartments or efficiencies set aside for these situations. They may or may not be in low-income housing developments. </p>
<p>For post-graduation plans, try to find a residential college (in Texas, small colleges where most students live on campus include Austin College, Southwestern College, and Trinity College.) This way you wouldn’t have to worry about finding housing. If you were independent your EFC would be 0 so you’d get financial aid based on need and, if you can get the best possible grades and test scores senior year, perhaps some “merit”. In any case housing would be factored into cost of attendance thus into financial aid. However the suggestion above, to rent a room in a home, is probably one of the cheapest solutions too, especially if you attend a non-residential college.</p>
<p>I don’t know about subsidized housing, but you would almost certainly qualify for food stamps if you are not required to buy a meal plan.</p>
<p>Look, take it one step at a time. The government will be helping you out somehow, whether it’s qualifying you for food stamps, housing, or whatever else is out there for you, especially after you become independent while still under 18. Heck, my in-laws from Peru were able to figure out ways to get all sorts of government/tax payer help, and they were healthy adults capable of caring for themselves, so there’s got to be help for you! You may even get some sort of Soc. Security payment every month, or something similar. Have all of your papers (birth certificate, soc. security card, etc) on you in that back pack so that you will have them when you need them.</p>
<p>Brown Parent. I believe the Direct Loan amount for an independent student is higher than for a dependent student…but I could be wrong. Freshmen and sophomores get an additional $4000 in Direct Loans ($9500 total).</p>
<p>Hey Myos1633, yes the college is said to cost me $9000 ‘if my parents were to help provide support’. I do think I have come to a conclusion that being declared independent would be one of the best first steps I should take.</p>
<h2>Now thank you for mentioning your idea of “then, you could”. I have looked into the duel-enrollment plans for community colleges, and the community college I wish to attend does in fact offer duel enrollment with the high schools in it’s surrounding location. However i’m not particularly sure or could find if I would still be up for any type of aid as i’d be basically in high school? (or since it’s going through the community college would it be up to them I suppose) The only type of aid i’d require is to afford some type of housing near the high school or community college though if i’m not mistaking. This is all also dependent on if as stated independently i’d be allowed to have my own place. (which I do have the information about that in mind from people posting above)</h2>
<p>Also as you stated about the list of bigger colleges, i’m currently only sure about attending community college for the two years to not only acquire the basics but also a few other classes if at all possible. </p>
<p>I don’t think duel-enrollment would allow me to acquire any college credits or attend any college classes other than the basics if i’m also not mistaken.</p>
<p>I do realise the basics are of the most importance to do first, however the GED would take a substantial less amount of time than duel-enrollment. Also along with time saving (and saying that everything actually goes well) i’d be able to attend the community college. (which would of course take us back to where we started)</p>
<p>Overall i’m thinking that maybe duel-enrollment would be a good back-up plan, just incase things do not work out with what I have stated to ask authority about first.
Which is to take the GED and (once all things in-between are rolling) register for the said community college.</p>
<hr>
<p>I am not sure if I completely got everything right that you mentioned, my mind is and still will be rolling around for awhile until all is set. </p>
<p>Also to you and everyone, what I am mentioning about plans and back-up plans are only set in mind right now and I will be going to talk to the counseling office at this towns high school about my situation. (also aware my plans are set in very, very simple form and know they will be indeed much more detail and steps to acquire this)</p>
<p>Thanks very much :)</p>
<p>Thanks teachandmom, I will remember to pack all that I need for the steps ahead. (bag will be full tonight ) I’m also glad to hear today these options I have with the government and authority helping. I was quite unaware of many things even through research. I am very grateful for the information everyone has given me so far. :)</p>
<p>Wishing you the best, Musicz. This cannot be easy for you. I really hope everything works out.</p>
<h2>Hello to everyone again, I came across this information about being set as independent. </h2>
<h2>“Colleges will not grant a dependency override because the parents refuse to contribute to the students education, because the parents refuse to file the FAFSA or complete verification, because the parents do not claim the student as a dependent on their federal income tax returns or because the student is totally self-sufficient. None of these reasons, not even in combination, is sufficient justification for a dependency override. Unusual circumstances that may merit a dependency override, subject to a case-by-case review by and the professional judgment of the college financial aid administrator, include an abusive family environment (e.g., court protection from abuse orders against the parents), abandonment by the parents, or the incarceration, hospitalization or institutionalization of both parents.”</h2>
<p>After reading this i’ve had some thought that it’s actually possibly a bigger chance than I had first thought that i’d not be allowed to be registered as independent.
I’m also not sure if that information would change anything if it was 100% correct in any possible way.</p>
<p>Think carefully about getting your family involved in the “system.”</p>
<p>Sorry for the joke but around here we joke about the kids we know in your situation, getting married. Marriage is one way to get declared independent of parents!</p>
<p>Once you turn 18, some government programs will consider you your own household of 1 (Medicaid for instance). I am not sure about other benefit programs.</p>
<p>Dual enrollment involves full scholarship in my state.</p>
<p>Dual enrollment can include full college courses that count toward college. It is not remedial necessarily. But since you have missed a lot of school, I suppose it is possible that some of your courses will be remedial (for college, meaning high school level). This would depend on placement tests. Even if you took and passed the GED, you still might get scores on placement tests that indicate remedial courses. But it is also likely that with or without a GED, you can just start with regular introductory community college classes that would count toward college. Again, when you finish a year you should automatically get a diploma, which will be irrelevant in many ways because you can write on job applications that you have “some college.”</p>
<p>I will say again that your problems won’t be solved, and your goals won’t be accessible, immediately. You may have to earn money while home, enough to move out, then earn enough for rent with roommates near the school, then take a class or two while working, and so on. Have you thought about some kind of quicker career training, say, in the health field? </p>
<p>You will have to be patient and persistent, which is way more than a lot of young people have to do. But there are many out there in the same situation, Get some help through an advisor but think long and hard about reporting your parents, honestly. Someone else can, but once you are involved with the system, things can get very complicated. You are almost 18.</p>
<p>compmom -</p>
<p>The whole point of involving the system now, is that this Musicz has almost no time before the age of 18. If he/she can be separated from his/her parents and assigned a court-appointed guardian before turning 18, then he/she will become independent for financial aid purposes, and will never need to ask his/her no-account parents for one bit of help in the financial aid application process. </p>
<p>Parents who have caused their child to be truant for two years should be jailed. There. I wrote it. This is inexcusable. Musicz needs to get out of that place, and on with his/her life.</p>
<p>Federal law guarantees access to a free and appropriate education, which means that Musicz can re-enroll in high school and remain in high school FOR FREE until graduation or the end of the school year in which he/she turns 21. With half-way decent support from the school district, chances are that Musicz will finish high school or a GED long before then. But if it is possible to complete the high school through the use of dual enrollment, Musicz will be able to finish up most (or possibly even all) of a community college program for free.</p>
<p>No one is saying that this all will be easy - in fact it will probably be terribly hard. But it will be much easier for Musicz if there is financial independence from the parents.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you first.
However…is this how you quite put it in simple form happymomof1?</p>
<p>Saying I was allowed and qualified as independent away from my parents, I would then qualify for free duel enrollment with the community college. (now if i’m not mistaken i’d be attending the high school, but also receiving the community college level classing?) I’m not sure if that varies from college to college, I could most likely research that.
Now as you say free is that also being said i’d be provided a place to live on my own with covered expenses? (I’d most likely want a job to save up if course, however If the housing i’d be placed in was not free then I still wouldn’t mind. just wondering if you’re mentioning that would be included)</p>
<h2>Also as compmom did mention though, I could also possibly attend or receive classes other than remedial? (such as any classes that the community college offers possibly) If so that’d be something i’d definitely put more in mind.</h2>
<p>I am trying to continue to be as patient and persistent as possible though. Thank you again :)</p>
<p>I do want to apologize though if I was quite off on understanding what you had mentioned, or anyone has mentioned today. I am trying my best to understand the point of views of individuals and the known facts as well. I am and can’t say enough very grateful for everyone’s help. I also am grateful to any further information or help at all.</p>
<p>I do plan on visiting this towns public high school counseling office as mentioned that might be a good place to start on acquiring independence or help with options at all for that matter. (planned for first thing tomorrow)</p>
<p>Just go to your local school and tell them your situation. You can tell them you are interested in dual enrollment and a way to finish your HS and/or get your GED. They can put you in touch with county agencies and hopefully you will get assigned to a social worker who can be your advocate and help explain what benefits you might be able to get. Also if it is feasible to be declared independent now. Be sure to talk to someone about that because your parents don’t care about your basic right to an education. You don’t have to look everything up and understand it now–you will get your information from these people and won’t have to wonder what is possible or not. Of course try to keep up like you are online so you keep informed of some of the possibilities.</p>
<p>You might not get all the options you want right away, but one thing is sure that you can’t go to the community college you picked because you don’t have the money or financial support. So you will have to take the help and the plan that is offered to you now. That is what is meant by having patience. Any college dual enrollment that is free is a bonus to you–you want to do that as long as possible. It likely makes sense to do that and get a regular diploma instead of a GED if you get it paid for. If you can’t do what you want now, when you turn 18 you will have other options and be the one to decide.</p>
<p>As you read, it is very hard to get your parent’s income set aside for financial aid purposes. But being declared independent is a step in the right direction. Your parent’s neglect in not sending you to school might be part of a case to show they do not care about your education and that may help you to get a dependency override through “professional judgement” of the college financial aid administrator.</p>
<p>Just take it one step at a time.</p>